Umbilical vein blood flow in rhesus-isoimmunization.

In 18 pregnancies complicated by rhesus-isoimmunization, blood flow in the fetal umbilical vein was measured by a noninvasive technique combining real-time and pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Blood flow was found to be elevated in severely affected fetuses and immediately after intrauterine blood transfusion. Blood flow in the fetal umbilical vein was inversely correlated with cord haemoglobin concentration at birth (r = -0.68). The technique used can be used for noninvasive assessment of fetal condition in rhesus-isoimmunization.